Beginning piano at age 3 and organ at age 10, Jonathan is largely self-taught at the theatre organ, though he has coached with Bill Porter and visiting Rochester Theater Organ Society artists. He made his theatre organ debut for RTOS in 2007 with Bill Porter and has since performed for numerous theatre organ groups throughout the United States, including feature performances at ATOS national conventions. He has two recordings to his credit, Clang Clang Clang recorded in 2009 on the RTOS-Grierson Wurlitzer, and Roll Out the Big Guns!, recorded live in 2010 on the Wurlitzer at Grays Armory in Cleveland. Both albums feature drummer Allan Ward.

Jonathan is currently employed by Russell & Company Organ Builders of Chester, Vermont. Planning to eventually open his own shop, he has, over the past eight years, worked for some of the most renowned organ builders and restorers in the United States; he also maintains a small freelance organ maintenance business.

Besides performing, building, and restoring, Jonathan writes on a variety of organ-related topics and his articles have appeared in The American Organist, Theatre Organ, The Tracker and The Diapason. He is a member of the OHS Publications Governing Board and is directing the restoration of Wurlitzer Opus 970 to be installed in the Strand Theatre in his hometown of Plattsburgh, New York.

© 2010 Jonathan Ortloff